As you begin to look at starting your own game franchise, you should consider just what type of business within the gaming industry you are really interested in starting. If you want to be on the retail side of the industry, then you should consider one of the few major game retail outlets and contact the company for further franchise information. You might consider also starting a game franchise that is still customer-based but not as heavily retail-oriented, such as a gaming café, arcade, or similar business.
The reality of video game retail is that it is predominantly controlled by a few large companies. Major electronic outlets and retail superstores often sell video games and many people shop at these locations out of convenience and ease of access. There are only a few remaining specialty video game retail companies from which you could choose to start a game franchise. Of these, GameStop, the largest video game specialty retailer in the United States, does not offer franchise opportunities and only opens company-owned stores across the country.
Fortunately, there are some game franchise opportunities still available for those who are interested. Examples such as Game On and Play N Trade are among the fastest growing and may be the most viable, since they offer distinctly different approaches and setups than other competitors. If you are interested in starting a game franchise through them, then you should contact them for further information. You should know, however, that the initial capital needed to start these types of businesses can often be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You might also consider a different type of game franchise, such as an arcade or game café that offers gaming as a service, rather than focusing primarily upon sales. While traditional arcades may not be as popular as they were in the past, new forms of arcade and social gaming locations provide new and unique opportunities for starting a game franchise. These types of businesses seek to establish physical locations in which members of the perpetually growing gaming community can meet, relax, and play.
Gaming cafés are places where gamers can get together and play games through computers and gaming consoles, sometimes on their own computers and sometimes on machines provided by the business, while enjoying the surroundings and services of the café. This can often include food and drink, as well as potential membership fees for greater bandwidth access or preferential services. Some locations have even established businesses often referred to as “barcades” in which traditional arcade games and entertainment are combined with serving alcoholic beverages, to provide a distinct gaming environment for adults. You might strongly consider opening a game franchise in one of these types of businesses, if typical sales and retail work does not appeal to you.